Box-strap seal.



7L7?" I I W. C. FORK.

BOX STRAP SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27 mm Patented. July 10, 1917.

llmi i imiiii @TATEbL PATJEN @FFTQE WILLIAM C. FORK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ACME STE-EL GOODS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOX-STRAP SEAL.

neaacra.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented d1 uly 11(1), 1915!.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, \ViLLIAM C. FORK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi- Cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Strap Seals, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the art of joining together metal straps or bands such as are commonly employed around packing boxes and the like, and the object is to provide a simple and eti'ective and economical construction with the minimum of increase in the overall thickness of metal, while at the same time effecting a thorough interlocking of the metal pieces in such manner as to prohibit weakening or relaxation through any straightening of bends or crimps under strap-strain.

In the drawings which form part of this specification, Figure 1 represents the complete seal in edge view; Fig. 2 shows the same thing in plan view; F ig. 3 is a section. taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. l is a central section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and here the section line again appears on which Fig. 3 is taken.

The overlapped ends of the fiat metal box strap are designated respectively a and b and 0 designates the flat metal sleeve through which these strap ends are passed. It will be understood that as at first applied this sleeve is perfectly plain, being composed of a piece of fiat metal doubled over at both sides with longitudinal edges confronting each other and suitably spaced apart. The strap ends having been run through this plain sleeve and the strap having been tightened upon the box by the use of a suitable mechanical appliance, then an implement or tool is used to crimp the metal of the sleeve and the strap ends. This process is promoted by the employment of special strap stock partially annealed, so that it will the more readily respond to the crimping action.

The chie] merit of the invention resides in the location of the crimps. They are here shown as made at opposite sides of the central longitudinal line of the sleeve so that the crimping takes effect only upon the marginal portions of the sleeve where it is doubled around the strap ends. A. depression of is thus created in the edge of the sleeve at each side extending a short distance inward, but the central area of the sleeve from end to end is unaffected. Correspondingly protuberances e are formed on the under side of the sleeve at both sides. The crimping of course takes effect also on the metal of the strap ends where they overlap within the sleeve, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and it will be manifest that by this process the strap ends are securely locked together and to the surrounding sleeve at both sides of the latter in such manner as to resist strain tending to pull the strap-ends apart.

The purpose of confining the crimping to the marginal side portions of the sleeve and strap ends is to entirely obviate any straighteniug out or unbending of interlocking formations under the strain of the strap. It will be understood that as these straps are commonly applied to packing boxes and the like they are tightened by application of very considerable power, which is usually done through the use of some mechanical appliance designed for the purpose and capable of putting the strap under severe tension. However, it will be seen that by leaving the central longitudinal portion of the strap ends and sleeve flat from end to end, no strain imposed upon the strap can operate to unbend or uncrimp the metal so as to affect the seal in any way or permit any relaxation in the tension of the strap about the goods.

I claim:

1. A strap seal comprising the overlapped strap-ends and a sleeve embracing them, the sleeve and strap-ends being interlocked by conjoint crimping confined to marginal portions thereof, and a part of the sleeve being left flat from end to end of the sleeve.

2. A strap seal comprising the overlapped strap-ends and a sleeve embracing them the sleeve and strap-ends being interlocked by conjoint crimping confined to marginal portions thereof at each side leaving the central part of the sleeve flat from end to end of the sleeve.

3. A strap seal comprising the overlapped strap-ends and a sleeve embracing them, the

sleeve and strap-ends being interlocked by conjoint cross-edge crimping confined to marginal portions thereof which leaves a part of the sleeve flat from end to end of the 5 sleeve.

4. A strap seal comprising the overlapped strap-ends and a sleeve embracing them the sleeve and strap-ends being interlocked by conjoint cross-edge crimping confined to marginal portions thereof at each side which 10 leaves the central part of the sleeve fiat from end to end of the sleeve.

WILLIAM C. FORK. 

